Curative

ABSTRACT

A curative for epoxidized plant-based oils and epoxidized natural rubber is created from the reaction between a naturally occurring polyfunctional acid and an epoxidized plant-based oil is disclosed. The curative may be used to produce porosity-free castable resins and vulcanize rubber formulations based on epoxidized natural rubber. Materials made from disclosed materials may be advantageously used as leather substitutes.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority from and is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/388,693 filed on Apr. 18, 2019, which application claimed priority from provisional U.S. App. Nos. 62/660,943 filed on Apr. 21, 2018; 62/669,483 filed on May 10, 2018; 62/669,502 filed on May 10, 2018; 62/756,062 filed on Nov. 5, 2018; 62/772,744 filed on Nov. 29, 2018; 62/772,715 filed on Nov. 29, 2018; and 62/806,480 filed on Feb. 15, 2019, all of which applications are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure related to methods for producing natural products that may be made utilizing the curative disclosed herein. The natural products have physical properties similar to synthetic coated fabrics, leather-based products, and foam products.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

No federal funds were used to develop or create the invention disclosed and described in the patent application.

BACKGROUND

The replacement of synthetic polymeric materials with naturally derived and biodegradable polymers is an important goal in achieving sustainable products and material processes. Among all potential natural starting materials, those that are most prevalent in nature and easily captured, separated, and purified are also the most cost-effective replacement options. Materials such as wood, natural fibers, natural oils, and other natural chemicals are all readily available in bountiful amounts. Heretofore, the limitations in using natural materials more broadly are due primarily to limitations in processing flexibility (e.g. moldability) and/or ultimate properties (e.g. strength, elongation, modulus).

Natural animal-hide leather is a versatile material for which there are few synthetic alternatives that meet the same performance attributes. Natural animal-hide leather in particular has a unique blend of flexibility, puncture resistance, abrasion resistance, formability, breathability, and imprintability. Synthetic leather substitute materials are known in the art. Many utilize a fabric backing and a polyurethane or plasticized polyvinyl chloride elastomeric surface—such material constructions may achieve certain performance attributes of natural animal-hide leather but are not all-natural and are not biodegradable. It is desirable to have a different material that comprises all-natural materials or at least contains a substantial portion of all-natural content. Furthermore, it is desirable that any leather substitute be biodegradable to avoid disposal concerns.

Memory foam materials are entirely made of synthetic polymers today. For example, most commercial memory foam comprises polyurethane elastomer that utilizes foam structure. Memory foam materials are characterized by lossy behavior, i.e. the polymer has a high loss modulus (tan 6). Memory foam materials are generally very stiff at temperatures substantially below room temperature (e.g. below 10° C.), rubbery at temperatures substantially above room temperature (e.g. above 50° C.), and leather/lossy at or near room temperature (e.g. 15° C.-30° C.).

Liu (U.S. Pat. No. 9,765,182) discloses an elastomeric product comprising epoxidized vegetable oil and a polyfunctional carboxylic acid. Because such ingredients are not miscible in each other, Liu discloses the use of an alcohol solvent that is capable of solubilizing the polyfunctional carboxylic acid and that is miscible with the epoxidized vegetable oil. An exemplary epoxidized vegetable oil disclosed by Liu is epoxidized soybean oil. An exemplary polyfunctional carboxylic acid disclosed by Liu is citric acid. Exemplary alcohols used as a solubilizing agent include ethanol, butanol, and isopropyl alcohol. Liu discloses the creation of an elastomer by dissolving citric acid in ethanol and then adding the entire amount of epoxidized soybean oil to the solution. The solution is then heated to 50° C.-80° C. for 24 hrs to remove the ethanol (assisted by vacuum). Liu discloses that the optimal temperature range for polymerization occurred at 70° C. (without any catalysts). The Liu disclosure is clear that the evaporation temperature range for the alcohol solvent and polymerization temperature are overlapping and thus there exhibits a high risk of prematurely curing the polymer, i.e. forming a gel, before the entirety of the solvent is removed. We have found that elastomers prepared by the method disclosed by Liu contain substantial porosity due to the evaporation of residual alcohol solvent after the onset of polymerization.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the methods and systems.

FIG. 1 is a chemical reaction formula and schematic for at least one illustrative embodiment of the curative disclosed herein.

FIG. 2A is an illustration of an epoxidized natural rubber-based material produced using a relatively lower viscosity resin that was allowed to penetrate throughout the flannel substrate resulting in a suede or brushed-looking surface.

FIG. 2B is an illustration of an epoxidized natural rubber-based material produced using a relatively higher viscosity resin that was allowed to only penetrate partly through the flannel substrate resulting in a glossy polished-looking surface.

FIG. 3 is an image of an epoxidized natural rubber-based material produced in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C are views of portion of an epoxidized natural rubber-based material produced in accordance with the present disclosure that may be used for construction of wallet wherein each version of the epoxidized natural rubber-based material is made with a different texture.

FIG. 5 is a view of a plurality of pieces of a epoxidized natural rubber-based material produced in accordance with the present disclosure that may be used for construction of wallet.

FIG. 6 is a view of the plurality of pieces of the epoxidized natural rubber-based material produced in accordance with the present disclosure assembled as a simple credit card wallet or carrier having the appearance, rigidity and strength as one of ordinary skill would expect with natural animal-hide leather.

FIG. 7 is a resin impregnated fabric that may be utilized in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 8A is a top view of a ball made according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 8B is a side view of a ball made according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 provides a graphical representation for two stress-strain curves of two different ENR-based materials.

FIG. 10A provides a depiction of an ENR-based material configured with inherent functionality for engaging a belt buckle.

FIG. 10B provides a depiction of the ENR-based material from FIG. 10A after engagement with a belt buckle.

FIG. 11 provides a depiction of an ENR-based material having grooves and ridges formed therein.

FIG. 12 provides a depiction of an illustrative embodiment of a molding system that may be used for certain ENR-based materials.

FIG. 13 shows pancake-like discs of foam product produced according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 14 shows a gradient of porosity associated with variation in curing temperature.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before the present methods and apparatuses are disclosed and described, it is to be understood that the methods and apparatuses are not limited to specific methods, specific components, or to particular implementations. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments/aspects only and is not intended to be limiting.

As used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Ranges may be expressed herein as from “about” one particular value, and/or to “about” another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent “about,” it will be understood that the particular value forms another embodiment. It will be further understood that the endpoints of each of the ranges are significant both in relation to the other endpoint, and independently of the other endpoint.

“Optional” or “optionally” means that the subsequently described event or circumstance may or may not occur, and that the description includes instances where said event or circumstance occurs and instances where it does not.

“Aspect” when referring to a method, apparatus, and/or component thereof does not mean that limitation, functionality, component etc. referred to as an aspect is required, but rather that it is one part of a particular illustrative disclosure and not limiting to the scope of the method, apparatus, and/or component thereof unless so indicated in the following claims.

Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the word “comprise” and variations of the word, such as “comprising” and “comprises,” means “including but not limited to,” and is not intended to exclude, for example, other components, integers or steps. “Exemplary” means “an example of” and is not intended to convey an indication of a preferred or ideal embodiment. “Such as” is not used in a restrictive sense, but for explanatory purposes.

Disclosed are components that can be used to perform the disclosed methods and apparatuses.

These and other components are disclosed herein, and it is understood that when combinations, subsets, interactions, groups, etc. of these components are disclosed that while specific reference of each various individual and collective combinations and permutation of these may not be explicitly disclosed, each is specifically contemplated and described herein, for all methods and apparatuses. This applies to all aspects of this application including, but not limited to, steps in disclosed methods. Thus, if there are a variety of additional steps that can be performed it is understood that each of these additional steps can be performed with any specific embodiment or combination of embodiments of the disclosed methods.

The present methods and apparatuses may be understood more readily by reference to the following detailed description of preferred aspects and the examples included therein and to the Figures and their previous and following description. Corresponding terms may be used interchangeably when referring to generalities of configuration and/or corresponding components, aspects, features, functionality, methods and/or materials of construction, etc. those terms.

It is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The present disclosure is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that phraseology and terminology used herein with reference to device or element orientation (such as, for example, terms like “front”, “back”, “up”, “down”, “top”, “bottom”, and the like) are only used to simplify description, and do not alone indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a particular orientation. In addition, terms such as “first”, “second”, and “third” are used herein and in the appended claims for purposes of description and are not intended to indicate or imply relative importance or significance.

Element Description Element Number Natural leather-like material (suede finish) 100 Natural leather-like material (glossy finish) 100′ Fabric 102 Fabric extension 103 Polymer 104

1. Curative (Pre-Polymer)

Disclosed is a curative comprised of an epoxidized triglyceride (which may be a plant-based oil such as vegetable and/or nut oil(s) and/or a microbial oil such as that produced by algae or yeast), naturally occurring polyfunctional carboxylic acids, and at least some grafted hydroxyl-containing solvent. Examples of such epoxidized triglycerides comprised of plant-based oils include epoxidized soybean oil (ESO), epoxidized linseed oil (ELO), epoxidized corn oil, epoxidized cottonseed oil, epoxidized canola oil, epoxidized rapeseed oil, epoxidized grape seed oil, epoxidized poppy seed oil, epoxidized tongue oil, epoxidized sunflower oil, epoxidized safflower oil, epoxidized wheat germ oil, epoxidized walnut oil, and other epoxidized vegetable oils (EVOs). Generally, any polyunsaturated triglyceride with an iodine number of 100 or greater may be epoxidized and used with the curative as disclosed herein without limitation unless otherwise indicated in the following claims. Such epoxidized triglycerides are generally known to be biodegradable. Examples of naturally occurring polyfunctional acids include citric acid, tartaric acid, succinic acid, malic acid, maleic acid, and fumaric acid. Although specific illustrative embodiments may denote one type of oil and/or acid, such embodiments are not meant to be limiting in any way unless otherwise indicated in the following claims.

The curative as disclosed herein is a reaction product between an epoxidized vegetable oil(s) and a naturally occurring polyfunctional carboxylic acid conducted in a solvent that is capable of solubilizing both the epoxidized vegetable oil(s) and a naturally occurring polyfunctional carboxylic acid, wherein the solvent contains at least some portion of a hydroxyl-containing solvent (i.e., an alcohol) that reacts with at least some portion of the carboxylic acid functional groups that are contained on the polyfunctional carboxylic acid. The curative is an oligomeric structure of carboxylic-acid-capped epoxidized vegetable oil, heretofore called a pre-polymer curative. The curative is a viscous liquid that is soluble in unmodified epoxidized vegetable oil and other epoxidized plant-sourced polymers (e.g., epoxidized natural rubber).

Generally the terms “curative,” “pre-polymer,” and “pre-polymer curative” are used to denote the same and/or similar chemical structure as disclosed in this Section 1. However, the function of the curative, pre-polymer, and pre-polymer curative may be different in different applications thereof to produce different end products. For example, when the curative is used with epoxy-containing monomeric resins (e.g., EVOs) it functions to build molecular weight that is integral to the backbone of the resultant polymer and therefore may be referred to as a pre-polymer in such applications. In another example, when the curative is used in applications having pre-existing high molecular weight epoxy-containing polymer (e.g., as disclosed below herein) the curative is functioning primarily to link those pre-existing high molecular weight polymers and therefore may be referred to simply as a curative in such applications. Finally, when the curative is used in applications having both substantial amounts of epoxy-containing monomer and some portion of pre-existing high molecular weight epoxy-containing polymer it functions both to build molecular weight and to link pre-existing high molecular weight polymers and therefore may be referred to as a pre-polymer curative.

It has been found that the creation of a curative can eliminate the risk of porosity due to solvent evaporation during the curing process. Furthermore, the oligomeric curative may incorporate substantially all of the polyfunctional carboxylic acid so that no additional curative is required during the curing process. For example, citric acid is not miscible in epoxidized soybean oil (ESO) but they may be made to react with each other in a suitable solvent. The amount of citric acid may be selected so that the curative is created so that substantially all of the epoxide groups of the ESO in the curative are reacted with carboxylic acid groups of the citric acid. With sufficiently excess citric acid, the pre-polymerization extent may be limited so that no gel fraction is formed. That is, the target species of the curative is a low molecular weight (oligomeric) citric-acid capped ester-product formed by the reaction between carboxylic acid groups on the citric acid with epoxide groups on the ESO. The solvent used for the reaction medium contains at least some portion of a hydroxyl-containing solvent (i.e., an alcohol) that is grafted unto at least some of the polyfunctional carboxylic acid during the creation of the curative. Although specific illustrative embodiments may denote one type of alcohol (e.g., IPA, ethanol, etc.), such embodiments are not meant to be limiting in any way unless otherwise indicated in the following claims. Illustrative oligomeric curatives may be created with weight ratios of ESO to citric acid in the range of 1.5:1-0.5:1, which corresponds to a molar ratio of epoxide groups:carboxylic acid groups of approximately 0.43:1 (for a weight ratio of 1.5:1) to 0.14:1 (for the weight ratio of 0.5:1). In on illustrative embodiment a weight ratio of ESO:citric acid is 1:1, which gives a molar ratio of epoxide groups:carboxylic acid groups of 0.29:1. If too much ESO is added during curative creation, the solution may gel and further incorporation of ESO to create the target resin becomes impossible. Note that on a weight basis, stoichiometric equivalent amounts of epoxide groups on the ESO (molecular weight of ˜1000 g/mol, functionality of 4.5 epoxide groups per molecule) and carboxylic acid groups on the citric acid (molecular weight 192 g/mol, functionality of 3 carboxylic groups per molecule) occur at a weight ratio of 100 parts of ESO to about 30 parts of citric acid. A weight ratio of ESO:citric acid above 1.5:1 may build a curative with excessive molecular weight (and hence viscosity) which limits its ability to be incorporated into unmodified epoxidized vegetable oil or epoxidized natural rubber. If the weight ratio of ESO:citric acid is below 0.5:1 it has been found that there is so much excess citric acid that after solvent evaporation, ungrafted citric acid may precipitate out of solution.

In addition to controlling the ratio of ESO to citric acid, through experimentation it has been found that selective control of the amount of alcohol used as a solvent may also be used to tailor the physical properties of the resulting elastomer made with the curative. The alcohol solvent itself is incorporated into the elastomer by forming ester linkages with the polyfunctional carboxylic acid. A mixture of two or more solvents may be used to tailor the amount of grafting of a hydroxyl-containing solvent onto the citric acid-capped oligomeric curative. A schematic depiction of the chemical reaction for making an illustrative embodiment of the curative disclosed herein is shown in FIG. 1.

For example, and without restriction or limitation, isopropyl alcohol (IPA), ethanol, or other suitable alcohol without limitation unless otherwise indicated in the following claims may be used as a component of a solvent system used to miscibilize citric acid with ESO. IPA, ethanol, or other suitable alcohol are capable of forming an ester linkage via a condensation reaction with citric acid. Since citric acid has three carboxylic acids, such grafting reduces the average functionality of the citric acid molecules that are reacting with the ESO. This is beneficial in creating an oligomeric structure that is more linear and therefore less highly branched. Acetone may be used as one component of a solvent system used to miscibilize citric acid with ESO, but unlike IPA or ethanol, acetone itself is not capable of being grafted onto the citric acid-capped oligomeric curative. Indeed, during creation of the oligomeric curative it has been found that the reactivity of the pre-polymer is determined, in part, by the ratio of the alcohol to acetone that may be used to solubilize citric acid with ESO. That is, in reaction mixtures with the similar amounts of citric acid and ESO, a curative created from a solution with a relatively high ratio of alcohol to acetone creates a curative with longer, less-highly-branched structures than curative created from a solution with a relatively low ratio of alcohol to acetone under similar reaction conditions.

Generally, a curative may be adapted for use with additional unmodified epoxidized vegetable oil to yield a castable resin. The improved methodology disclosed by Applicant herein results in substantially porosity-free elastomeric products.

2. Coated Materials A. Summary

The curative as disclosed immediately above may function as a pre-polymer and may be mixed with additional epoxidized vegetable oil to be used as a resin which may be applied to various backing materials/backing layers to yield a leather-like material with excellent tear strength, flexibility, dimensional stability, and fabrication integrity. Throughout this disclosure, the terms “backing material” and “backing layer” may be used interchangeably depending the specific context. However, for certain articles disclosed herein a backing material may be comprised of a resin-impregnated backing layer. According to one illustrative embodiment of a coated material utilizing the pre-polymer, one illustrative fabric backing material/backing layer may be a woven cotton flannel (as depicted in FIGS. 2A & 2B and described in more detail below). If the resin is formulated to be relatively low in viscosity, exposed flannel may persist above the resin-coated fabric core. This imparts a warm texture to the surface of the article. Other fabric backing material/backing layer may include woven substrates of various kinds (e.g., plain weave, twill, sateen weave, denim), knitted substrates, and non-woven substrates without limitation unless indicted in the following claims.

In other embodiments, the resin may be coated onto a non-stick surface (e.g., silicone or PTFE) or texture paper at a consistent layer thickness. After the film has been coated to an even layer, a layer of backing material may be laid on top of the liquid resin. The liquid resin may wick into the fabric layer (i.e., backing material) creating a permanent bond with the fabric during curing. The article may then be placed in an oven to complete the cure of the resin. Temperatures for curing may be preferably 60° C.-100° C., or even more preferably 70° C.-90° C. for a duration of 4 hr-24 hr. Longer cure times are also permissible. Alternatively, the liquid resin may be applied onto a non-stick surface (e.g., silicone or PTFE) or texture paper at a consistent layer thickness after which fabric may be laid on top of the liquid resin and then another non-stick surface may be laid on top of the resin and fabric. This assembly may be placed in a heated molding press to complete the cure. Cure temperatures within a press may optionally be higher than in an oven because the molding pressure minimizes the creation of bubbles (voids) in the final article. Cure temperatures within a press may be between 80° C.-170° C., or even more preferably, 100° C.-150° C. for a duration of 5 minutes-60 minutes, or more preferably between 15 minutes-45 minutes.

The resin may be optically clear with a slight yellow hue. Resin that has no pigment added may be used to create oil-cloth like materials that allow for fabrics to be made water resistant and wind resistant while still allowing the fabric patterns to be visible within the resin. Coated fabrics made according to this embodiment may be cured either in an oven (without press molding) or may be cured within a heated press. Such coated fabrics may be used for garments, particularly for outerwear, or for waterproof accessories; including, but not limited to, purses, handbags, backpacks, duffle bags, luggage, briefcases, hats, and the like.

Novel embossed items have been created using the resin described in this disclosure in combination with non-woven mats comprised of virgin or recycled textile fibers. Specifically, non-woven webs from about 7 mm thick to about 20 mm thick may be impregnated by resins prepared according to this disclosure. After impregnation, the non-woven webs may be pressed in a heated hydraulic press to a nominal pressure of between 10 psi-250 psi, or even more preferably between 25 psi-100 psi. The non-woven web with resin may be pressed between silicone release liners, one of which may have an embossing pattern therein. The embossing pattern may have relief characteristics of a depth between 1 mm-6 mm, or more preferably between 2 mm and 4 mm in depth. When resin prepared according to this disclosure is further pigmented with a structural color pigment, e.g., mica pigments of various shades—many of which have pearlescent qualities—and such resin is molded into a non-woven web with an embossing pattern, it has been found to create aesthetically pleasing patterned articles. The structural color has been found to preferentially align at embossing features to create sharp contrasts and visual depth corresponding to the embossed pattern. Alternatively, and without restriction unless so indicated in the following claims, mineral pigments from other source rocks and processes may be included in the casting resin to impart color to articles made according to the present disclosure.

Resin coated fabrics made also be created according to one embodiment of the present disclosure using roll-to-roll processing. In a roll-to-roll process of textured, coated fabrics, including leather-like materials, the texture paper is often used as a carrier film to move both the resin and the fabric through an oven for a specific duration of time. The resin according to the present disclosure may require cure times that are longer than PVC or polyurethane resins that are currently used in the art, thus the line speeds may be correspondingly slower or the cure ovens may be made longer to effect a longer cure time. Vacuum degassing of the resin prior to casting may allow for higher temperatures to be used for curing (due to less residual solvent, moisture, and trapped air) that would speed up the cure time and thus the line pull rate.

Alternatively, certain catalysts are known in the art to speed up the carboxylic acid addition to epoxide groups. Base catalysts may be added to the resin; some example catalysts include pyridine, isoquinoline, quinoline, N,N-dimethylcyclohexylamine, tributylamine, N-ethylmorpholine, dimethylaniline, tetrabutyl ammonium hydroxide, and similar molecules. Other quaternary ammonium and phosphonium molecules are known catalysts for the carboxylic acid addition to epoxide groups. Various imidazoles are likewise known as catalysts for this reaction. Zinc salts of organic acids are known to improve the cure rate as well as impart beneficial properties, including improved moisture resistance, to the cured films. (See Werner J. Blank, Z. A. He and Marie Picci, “Catalysis of the Epoxy-Carboxyl Reaction”, Presented at the International Waterborne, High-Solids and Powder Coatings Symposium, Feb. 21-23, 2001.) Accordingly, any suitable catalyst may be used without limitation unless otherwise indicated in the following claims.

B. Illustrative Embodiments

Although the illustrative embodiments and methods that follow include specific reaction parameters (e.g., temperatures, pressures, reagent ratios, etc.), those embodiments and methods are for illustrative purposes only and in no way limit the scope of the present disclosure unless otherwise indicated in the following claims.

First Illustrative Embodiment and Method

To make a first illustrative embodiment of a coated material using the pre-polymer (that is, the curative as disclosed previously above), 18 parts of citric acid were dissolved into 54 parts of warm IPA. To this solution, only 12 parts of ESO is added. The IPA was evaporated with continuous heating and stirring (above ˜85° C.). This was found to make a viscous liquid that could be heated to above 120° C. without gelation (even for long periods of time). This viscous liquid pre-polymer was allowed to cool below 80° C. To this viscous liquid, 88 parts of ESO is added. The final liquid resin will polymerize to a solid elastomeric product in 1-5 minutes at ˜150° C. The coated material (which may serve as a substitute for natural animal-hide leather) may be formed as a reaction product using an epoxidized triglyceride and the pre-polymer without limitation unless otherwise indicated in the following claims.

Second Illustrative Embodiment and Method

For this illustrative embodiment, 30 parts of citric acid were dissolved into 60 parts of warm IPA. To this solution, 20 parts of ESO were slowly added while stirring. The IPA was evaporated with continuous heating and stirring (above 85° C., and preferably above 100° C.). This viscous pre-polymer was allowed to cool below 80° C. (preferably below 70° C.) and 80 parts of ESO were added along with various structural color pigments and 0.5 parts of zinc stearate (as an internal mold release agent). The resulting resin was poured over cellulosic fabric and allowed to cure at ˜120° C. for 10-30 minutes. After initial cure, the material was placed in an 80° C. oven for overnight post-curing (˜16 hours). The surface of the material was then sanded smooth (and optionally polished). The resulting material was found to have leather-like attributes.

Third Illustrative Embodiment and Method

Pre-polymer creation has been conducted by dissolving 50 parts of citric acid in 100 parts of warm IPA, accelerated by mixing. After dissolution of the citric acid, 50 parts of ESO is added to the stirring solution. The mixture is kept on a hot plate while the IPA evaporated under continuous heat and stirring. Such solutions have been created multiple times with various hot plate temperatures and air flow conditions. Even after extended times of heating and stirring, it has repeatedly been found that the amount of reaction product is greater than the mass of the ESO and citric acid alone. Depending on the rate of IPA evaporation (determined at least by air flow, mixing rate, and hot plate temperature) between 2.5 and 20 parts of the IPA has been found to be grafted onto the citric-acid capped oligomeric pre-polymer. Furthermore, solvent blends of acetone and IPA may be used as the reaction medium wherein the ratio between acetone and IPA determines the amount of residual carboxylic acid functional groups on the pre-polymer as well as the amount of branching in the pre-polymer. Higher amounts of IPA create more linear structures by lowering the effective functionality of the citric acid by capping some of the carboxylic acid functional groups by grafting IPA unto the citric acid via an ester linkage as referenced in FIG. 1. Lower amounts of IPA create more highly branched structures with more residual carboxylic acid functional groups.

Fourth Illustrative Embodiment and Method

Pre-polymer creation has been conducted by dissolving 50 parts of citric acid in 100 parts of warm IPA, accelerated by mixing. After dissolution of the citric acid, 50 parts of ESO and 15 parts of dewaxed blonde shellac is added to the stirring solution. The mixture is kept on a hot plate the while IPA evaporated under continuous heat and stirring. The shellac was found to increase the viscosity of the resulting pre-polymer.

Fifth Illustrative Embodiment and Method

Pre-polymer creation has been conducted by dissolving 45 parts of citric acid in 90 parts of warm IPA, accelerated by mixing. After dissolution of the citric acid, 45 parts of ESO is added to the stirring solution. The mixture is kept on a hot plate while the IPA evaporated under continuous heat and stirring.

Sixth Illustrative Embodiment and Method

Pre-polymer creation has been conducted by dissolving 45 parts of citric acid in 30 parts of warm IPA and 60 parts of acetone, accelerated by mixing. After dissolution of the citric acid, 45 parts of ESO is added to the stirring solution. The mixture is kept on a hot plate while the acetone and IPA evaporated under continuous heat and stirring. Such solutions have been created multiple times with various hot plate temperatures and air flow conditions. Even after extended times of heating and stirring, it has repeatedly been found that the amount of reaction product is greater than the mass of the ESO and citric acid alone, but the amount of grafted IPA is less than in pre-polymer created according to the fifth illustrative embodiment (even though the ratio of ESO:citric acid is 1:1 in both cases). Furthermore, pre-polymer created according to the fifth illustrative embodiment is lower in viscosity compared to pre-polymer created according to the sixth illustrative embodiment.

Generally, it is contemplated that the greater content of IPA during the pre-polymer creation allowed more IPA to be grafted onto carboxylic-acid sites on the citric acid, thus lowering the average functionality of the citric acid and thus creating a less highly branched oligomeric pre-polymer. In no circumstance have reaction conditions been found that capping of the citric acid with IPA to such an extent that final curing of the resin is prohibited.

Seventh Illustrative Embodiment and Method

The pre-polymer created in the fourth illustrative embodiment was mixed with additional ESO to bring the total calculated amount of ESO to 100 parts. This mixture was found to cure into a transparent, elastomeric resin. Tensile testing according to ASTM D412 found that the tensile strength was 1.0 MPa with an elongation at break of 116%.

Eight Illustrative Embodiment and Method

Pre-polymer was created by dissolving 45 parts of citric acid in 20 parts of IPA and 80 parts of acetone under heating and stirring. After dissolution of the citric acid, 35 parts of ESO was added to the solution along with 10 parts of shellac. The pre-polymer created after evaporation of the solvents was then cooled. The pre-polymer was mixed with an additional 65 parts of ESO to bring the total amount of ESO to 100 parts. The mixed resin was then cast on a silicone mat to make a transparent sheet. The mechanical properties of the material were found by tensile testing according to ASTM D412. The tensile strength was found to be 1.0 MPa and the elongation was 104%, which gives a calculated modulus of 0.96 MPa.

Ninth Illustrative Embodiment and Method

Pre-polymer was created by dissolving 45 parts of citric acid in 5 parts of IPA and 80 parts of acetone under heating and stirring. After dissolution of the citric acid, 35 parts of ESO was added to the solution along with 10 parts of shellac. The pre-polymer created after evaporation of the solvents was then cooled. The pre-polymer was mixed with an additional 65 parts of ESO to bring the total amount of ESO to 100 parts. The mixed resin was then cast on a silicone mat to make a transparent sheet. The mechanical properties of the material were found by tensile testing according to ASTM D412. The tensile strength was found to be 1.8 MPa and the elongation was 62%, which gives a calculated modulus of 2.9 MPa. As can be seen from the eighth and ninth illustrative embodiments, the lower amount of IPA present during pre-polymer creation yields a pre-polymer that creates a more highly crosslinked resin with higher modulus and lower elongation. These reaction products are more plastic-like and less rubber-like in their material attributes.

Tenth Illustrative Embodiment and Method

Pre-polymer was created by dissolving 25 parts of citric acid in 10 parts of IPA and 80 parts of acetone under heating and stirring. After dissolution of the citric acid, 20 parts of ESO was added to the solution along with 5 parts of shellac. The pre-polymer created after evaporation of the solvents was then cooled. The pre-polymer was mixed with an additional 80 parts of ESO to bring the total amount of ESO to 100 parts. The mixed resin was then cast on a silicone mat to make a transparent sheet. The mechanical properties of the material were found by tensile testing according to ASTM D412. The tensile strength was found to be 11.3 MPa and the elongation was 33%, which gives a calculated modulus of 34 MPa. As can be seen from the tenth illustrative embodiment, by appropriate design of the pre-polymer and the final resin mixture, a plastic material with the attributes of high strength and high modulus may be created by the methods of the present disclosure.

Eleventh Illustrative Embodiment and Method

The pre-polymer of the sixth illustrative embodiment was mixed with additional ESO to bring the total calculated amount of ESO to 100 parts. The mixed resin was then cast on a silicone mat to make a transparent sheet. The mechanical properties of the material were found by tensile testing according to ASTM D412. The tensile strength was found to be 0.4 MPa and the elongation was 145%, which gives a calculated modulus of 0.28 MPa.

As can be seen from the eleventh illustrative embodiment, by appropriate design of the pre-polymer and the final resin mixture, a high elongation elastomeric material by be created by the methods of the present disclosure. Therefore, by appropriate design of the pre-polymer, the inventive methods may be used to produce materials ranging from stiff, plastic-like materials to high-elongation elastomeric materials. Generally, higher amounts of IPA grafted during pre-polymer formation lowers the stiffness of the resulting material. Higher amounts of dissolved shellac yield stronger materials with somewhat higher stiffness. Citric acid amount (relative to the final mixed recipe) may be used either above stoichiometric balance or below to lower the modulus. Citric acid amounts near stoichiometric balance (˜30 parts by weight to 100 parts by weight ESO) generally yield the stiffest materials; unless offset by high levels IPA grafting of the carboxylic acid groups during pre-polymer formation.

One of the beneficial attributes of animal-based leather is its flexibility over a wide range of temperatures. Synthetic-polymer based leather substitutes based on PVC or polyurethane may become particularly stiff at temperatures below −10° C. or below −20° C. (based on testing according to CFFA-6a—Cold Crack Resistance—Roller method). Materials prepared according to some of the embodiments of the present disclosure may have poor cold crack resistance. In the following examples, formulations are given that improve cold crack resistance. Cold crack resistance may be improved by adding a flexible plasticizer. Some natural vegetable oils may exhibit good low temperature flow, especially preferred may be polyunsaturated oils. Such oils may be any non-epoxidized triglycerides (such as those disclosed in Section 1 above) having relatively high iodine numbers (e.g., greater than 100) without limitation unless otherwise indicated in the following claims. Alternatively, monounsaturated oils may be added as plasticizers; one illustrative oil may be castor oil which is found to be thermally stable and less prone to becoming rancid. Additionally, the fatty acids and fatty acid salts of these oils may be used as a plasticizer. Accordingly, the scope of the present disclosure is in no way limited by the presence of or particular chemistry of a plasticizer unless otherwise indicated in the following claims.

Another approach is to use a polymeric additive that may impart improved low temperature flexibility. A preferred polymeric additive may be Epoxidized Natural Rubber (ENR). ENR is available commercially in different grades with various levels of epoxidation, for example 25% epoxidation of the double bonds yields grade ENR-25, 50% epoxidation of the double bonds yields grade ENR-50. Higher levels of epoxidation increase the glass transition temperature, T_(g). It is advantageous for the T_(g) to remain as low as possible for the most improvement in cold crack resistance in the final resin, so ENR-25 may be the preferred grade for use as a polymeric plasticizer. Even lower levels of epoxidation may be advantageous for further lowering of the cold crack temperature in the final resin. However, the scope of the present disclosure is not so limited unless otherwise indicated in the following claims.

Twelfth Illustrative Embodiment and Method

ENR-25 was mixed with ESO on a two-roll rubber compounding mill. It was found that ESO could slowly be added until a total of 50 parts of ESO could be added to 100 parts of ENR-25 before the viscosity dropped so far that further mill mixing was impossible. This gooey material was then transferred to containers for further mixing in a Flacktek® Speedmixer. A flowable mixture was achieved when a total of 300 parts of ESO was finally incorporated into 100 parts of ENR-25. The mixture created did not phase segregate.

The material of the twelfth illustrative embodiment may be mixed in a single step by a number of means known in the art, without restriction or limitation unless indicated in the following claims. Specifically, so-called Sigma Blade mixers may be used to create a homogenous mixture of ENR and ESO in a single step. Likewise, a kneader, such as a Buss Kneader, by used to create such mixtures in a continuous mixer-type arrangement which is well known to one of ordinary skill in the art. The homogeneous mixture may be mixed with pre-polymers as described in prior examples to create a spreadable resin that may be used as a leather-like material with improved cold crack resistance. Additionally, materials created with ENR-modified ESO as disclosed by the twelfth illustrative embodiment may exhibit improved tear strength, elongation, and abrasion resistance when compared to resins that do not contain ENR.

C. Additional Treatments

Articles produced according to this disclosure may be finished by any means known in the art. Such means include, but are not limited to, embossing, branding, sanding, abrading, polishing, calendering, varnishing, waxing, dyeing, pigmenting, and the like unless otherwise indicated in the following claims. Exemplary results may be obtained by impregnating the resin of the present disclosure onto fabric or a non-woven mat and curing such article. After curing the article, the surfaces may be sanded to remove imperfections and expose some portion of the substrate. Such surfaces exhibit characteristics very analogous to animal-hide leather, as exemplified by FIGS. 3-7. The surfaces then may be treated with natural oil or wax protectants, subject to a particular application.

D. Applications/Illustrative Products

Coated fabrics, ENR-based materials, and/or oil cloth-like materials produced according to the present disclosure may be used in applications where animal-hide leather and/or synthetic resin-coated fabrics are used today. Such applications may include belts, purses, backpacks, shoes, table tops, seating, and the like without limitation unless otherwise indicated in the following claims. Many of these articles are consumable items that if made from synthetic material alternatives are non-biodegradable and are non-recyclable. If such items are instead made according to the present disclosure, they would be biodegradable and thus not create a disposal problem as the biodegrability of similarly prepared polymers made from ESO and natural acids has been studied and shown. Shogren et al., Journal of Polymers and the Environment, Vol. 12, No. 3, July 2004. Furthermore, unlike animal-hide leather, which requires significant processing to be made durable and stable (some of which uses toxic chemicals), the materials disclosed herein may require less processing and will use environmentally friendly chemicals. Additionally, animal-hide leather is limited in size and may contain defects that render large pieces inefficient to produce. The material disclosed herein does not have the same kind of size limitations.

A cross-sectional depiction of the resulting material when a liquid resin precursor such as those described for various illustrative embodiments and methods above was applied to cotton flannel fabric that was placed over a heated surface (a hot plate) is shown in FIGS. 2A & 2B. The resin was found to react in 1-5 minutes when the surface temperature of the hot plate was ˜130° C.-150° C. The viscosity of the resin may be controlled by the time allowed for polymerization prior to pouring over the surface. By controlling the viscosity, the degree of penetration into the surface may be controlled to achieve various effects in the resultant product. For example, a lower viscosity resin may penetrate throughout the fabric 102 and leave a suede or brushed-looking surface as shown in FIG. 2A to create a natural leather-like material 100 having a suede finish. A higher viscosity resin may penetrate only partly through the fabric 102 and result in a glossy, polished-looking surface as shown in FIG. 2B to create a natural leather-like material 100′ having a glossy finish. In this way, variations may be created that mimic natural animal-hide leather products. As shown in contrasting FIGS. 2A & 2B, the natural leather-like material 100 having a suede finish 100 may exhibit a larger number of fabric extensions 103 extending from the fabric 102 through the polymer 104 than does the natural leather-like material 100′ having a glossy finish. In the natural leather-like material 100′ having a glossy finish, the majority of fabric extensions 103 may terminate within the polymer 104.

Alternatively, an article with a suede-like (i.e., relatively soft) surface without resin may be created by embedding flannel in a non-miscible paste (e.g., silicone vacuum grease) that is coated on a hot plate. The resin can then be poured over the surface of the flannel but will not penetrate through the non-miscible paste. After curing, the non-miscible paste may be removed from the article leaving that surface with a suede-like feeling. One of ordinary skill will therefore appreciate that a natural leather-like material as disclosed herein may be produced as the reaction product between an epoxidized vegetable oil and a naturally occurring polyfunctional acid impregnated upon a cotton flannel substrate, without limitation or restriction, wherein the article thus formed has the reaction product impregnated only partly through the substrate with substantially unimpregnated flannel on one side of the article. Although cotton flannel was used in these examples, any suitable flannel and/or fabric may be used including but not limited to those made from linen, hemp, ramie, and other cellulosic fibers without limitation unless otherwise indicated in the following claims. Additionally, non-woven substrates may be used as well recycled substrates (upcycled). Brushed knits may be used to impart additional stretch to the resultant article. Random mats (e.g., Pellon, also known as batting) may be advantageously used as a substrate for certain articles. In another illustrative embodiment, a textile backing layer and/or backing material may be configured from a protein-based fiber, which fibers include but are not limited to of wool, silk, alpaca fiber, qiviut, vicuna fiber, llama wool, cashmere, and angora unless otherwise indicated in the following claims.

Additional illustrative products that may be made according to the present disclosure are shown in FIGS. 3-8B. A depiction of a sheet of material that may serve as a natural leather-like material is shown in FIG. 3, and FIGS. 4-6 show various natural leather-like materials that may be used to construct a wallet. The material in FIGS. 4A, 4B, & 4C is shown with a plurality of apertures made therein, which apertures may be made with a conventional drill without limitation unless otherwise indicated in the following claims. Contrasting FIGS. 4A, 4B, & 4C shows that the method for making the material may be configured to impart a wide variety of textures thereon, which textures include but are not limited to smooth, grainy, soft, etc. (e.g., similar to that of various animal-hide leathers) unless otherwise indicated in the following claims.

The material pieces shown in FIGS. 5 & 6 may be cut using a laser cutter. Unlike animal-hide leather, the laser cutting did not char or degrade the edges of the natural leather-like material along the cutline. A finished wallet constructed of a natural leather-like material made according to the present disclosure is shown in FIG. 6. The separate pieces shown in FIG. 5 may be conventionally assembled (e.g., sewn) to construct a simple credit card wallet or carrier (as shown in FIG. 6) having the appearance, rigidity, and strength as one would expect in a similar article made from animal-hide leather. The natural leather-like material may be sewn and/or otherwise processed into a finished product using conventional techniques without limitation unless otherwise indicated in the following claims. As shown in FIG. 7 and as described in detail above, a fabric may be impregnated with a resin to provide various characteristics to an article made according to the present disclosure.

Additionally, the resin produced according to the present disclosure may be pigmented to match the coloration of natural animal-hide leather. Of particular utility are structural color pigments and/or mineral pigments that do not contain any harmful substances. One such example of illustrative structural color pigments is Jaquard PearlEx® pigments. It has been found that the blending of structural color pigments at relatively low loadings creates a natural leather-like material that has excellent visual aesthetics. Another such illustrative example of a suitable pigment may be procured from Kreidezeit Naturfarben, GmbH. Furthermore, it has been found that lightly sanding the resultant surface results in a material that strongly resembles tanned & dyed animal-hide leather.

Although the examples disclosed utilized only one layer of fabric, other illustrative samples have been created with multiple fabric layers to create thicker leather-like products. Since the reaction between epoxide groups and carboxylic groups does not create any condensation by-products, there is no inherent limit to the cross-sectional thickness that may be created. Resin-coated fabrics and non-wovens are used in applications such as office furniture, including seating, writing surfaces, and room dividers; in garments, including jackets, shoes, and belts; in accessory items, including handbags, purses, luggage, hats, and wallets; and may be useful in residential decorations, including wallcoverings, floor coverings, furniture surfaces, and window treatments. Current applications that are served by animal-based leather may be considered potential applications for materials made according to the present disclosure.

Furthermore, current applications that are served by petrochemical-based flexible films; notably those served by PVC and polyurethane-coated fabrics, may be considered potential applications for materials made according to the present disclosure. In addition, the resin as disclosed herein is substantially free of any off-gassing vapors when cured according to the times and temperatures as disclosed herein. Therefore, applications that are thicker than traditional films may also be served by the resins prepared according to the present disclosure. For example, the resin may be used to cast three-dimensional items in suitable molds. A top view of such a three-dimensional item configured as a ball made according to the present disclosure is provided in FIG. 8A, and a side view thereof is shown in FIG. 8B. The ball may be resin-based and may be produced from epoxidized soy oil and citric acid-based recipes along with structural color pigments. Simple tests indicate it has very low rebound and is expected to have excellent vibration absorption qualities.

Prior art three-dimensional cast resin items are typically made of styrene-extended polyester (orthophthallic or isophthalic systems). Such items may currently consist of two-part epoxies or two-part polyurethane resins. Such items may currently consist of silicone casting resins. One example of an application currently served by two-part epoxies is the thick-film coating of tables and decorative inlays, wherein the epoxy may be selectively pigmented to create a pleasing aesthetic design. Such applications have been successfully duplicated with casting resins created according to the present disclosure. Furthermore, small chess pieces have been successfully cast from resins created according to the present disclosure without detrimental off-gassing or trapped air. Accordingly, a wide array of applications exist for various materials made according to the present disclosure and the specific intended use of the final article produced by any method disclosed herein is not limited to a particular application unless otherwise indicated in the following claims.

3. Epoxidized Rubber A. Summary

Coated fabrics prepared as disclosed in Section 2 above use a liquidous viscosity resin that allows such materials to flow into fabric and non-woven substrates. The resulting cured materials have mechanical properties that reflect highly-branched structures with limited polymer flexibility between crosslinks (modest strength and modest elongation). One means of increasing the mechanical properties is to begin with polymeric materials that have more linear structures and can be cured with lower cross-link density. The incorporation of shellac resin (which is a high molecular weight natural resin) in coated fabric recipes was found to improve strength and elongation but was also found to make the materials more plastic. Material formulations as disclosed in Section 3—Epoxidized Rubber are able to exhibit excellent mechanical properties (very high strength and higher elongation) without compromising material flexibility at room temperature.

A natural material based on epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) is disclosed that contains no animal-based substances and is substantially free of petrochemical-containing materials. In certain embodiments this natural material may serve as a leather-like material (which may be a substitute for animal-hide leather and/or petrochemical-based leather-like products (e.g., PVC, polyurethane, etc.) without limitation unless otherwise indicated in the following claims. Furthermore, the natural material based on ENR as disclosed herein may be configured to be substantially free of allergens that may cause sensitivity in certain people. The material disclosed herein is more cost effective and scalable than other proposed materials for petrochemical-free vegan leather. With certain treatments the natural material may also be made water resistant, heat resistant, and retain flexibility at low temperatures. This set of beneficial attributes may apply to any natural material based on ENR that is produced according to the present disclosure and to which additional treatments are applied, as suitable to a particular application, as disclosed and discussed herein.

In at least one embodiment, an elastomeric material may be formed to include at least a primary polymeric material further comprised of epoxidized natural rubber and a curative comprised of a reaction product between a polyfunctional carboxylic acid and an epoxidized vegetable oil as disclosed in Section 1—Curative. The elastomeric material may also be formed wherein the primary polymeric material is greater in volumetric proportion in comparison to the curative. The elastomeric material may also be formed to wherein the epoxidized natural rubber has a degree of epoxidation between 3% and 50% without limitation unless otherwise indicated in the following claims. Another embodiment of the elastomeric material may be comprised of a primary polymeric material comprised of epoxidized natural rubber and a cure system that is not sulfur-based nor peroxide-based, and wherein the cure system contains over 90% reactants from biological sources.

In another embodiment, an article may be formed from the reaction product of epoxidized natural rubber and a curative wherein the curative is the reaction product between a naturally occurring polyfunctional carboxylic acid and an epoxidized vegetable oil. In another embodiment, an article comprised of epoxidized natural rubber with fillers including cork powder and precipitated silica may be formed and the article may be molded as a sheet with leather-like texture. In another embodiment, an article may be formed wherein the reaction product further contains fillers of cork powder and silica. In another embodiment, the article may be formed or configured such that two or more layers of the reaction product have substantially different mechanical properties and the mechanical property differences are due to differences in filler composition.

B. Illustrative Methods and Products

Epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) is a commercially available product under the tradename Epoxyprene® (Sanyo Corp.). It is available in two grades with 25% epoxidation and 50% epoxidation, ENR-25 and ENR-50 respectively. However, in certain embodiments it is contemplated that an ENR with a level of epoxidation between 3% and 50% may be used without limitation unless otherwise indicated in the following claims. One of ordinary skill will appreciate that ENR may also be produced from protein denatured or removed latex starting products. During the epoxidation of natural rubber, it has been found that the allergen activity is significantly reduced—the literature for Epoxyprene discloses that the Latex Allergen Activity is only 2-4% of that of untreated natural rubber latex products. This is a substantial improvement for those that may experience latex allergies. ENR is used in materials of the present disclosure to impart elongation, strength, and low temperature flexibility to the products disclosed and claimed.

ENR is traditionally cured with chemistries that are common in the rubber compound literature, e.g., sulfur cure systems, peroxide cure systems, and amine cure systems. According to the present disclosure, a specially prepared curative with carboxylic acid functionality is prepared to be used as the curative as fully disclosed in Section 1 above. There are a number of naturally-occurring polyfunctional carboxylic acid containing molecules, including but not limited to citric acid, tartartic acid, succinic acid, malic acid, maleic acid, and fumaric acid. None of these molecules are miscible in ENR and thus have limited effectivity and utility. It has also been found that a curative of, for example, citric acid, and an epoxidized vegetable oil may be prepared that is soluble in ENR. Specifically, curatives of epoxidized soybean oil (ESO) and citric acid have been prepared with an excess of citric acid to prevent gelation of the ESO. Citric acid itself is not miscible in ESO, but it has been advantageously been discovered that solvents such as isopropyl alcohol, ethanol, and acetone (for example but without limitation unless otherwise indicated in the following claims) may make a homogeneous solution of citric acid and ESO. In this solution, the excess citric acid is made to react with the ESO and create a carboxylic-acid-capped oligomeric material (that is still liquid) as shown in FIG. 1. The miscibilizing solvent contains at least some hydroxyl-containing (i.e., alcohol) solvent that at least partially reacts with some of the carboxylic acid functional groups on the citric acid. The majority of the solvent is removed with elevated temperature and/or vacuum—leaving behind a curative that may be used as a miscible curative for the ENR. By thus constructing the curative, the resultant material is substantially free of petrochemical-sourced inputs.

First Illustrative Embodiment and Process for the Creation of Curative that is Used in the Preparation of ENR-Based Material

Curative was prepared by dissolving 50 parts of citric acid in a warm blend of 50 parts of isopropyl alcohol and 30 parts of acetone. After the citric acid was dissolved, 15 parts of shellac flakes (blonde dewaxed) were added to the mixture along with 50 parts of ESO. The mixture was heated and stirred continually until all the volatile solvents had evaporated. It is noteworthy that the total residual volume is greater than that of the citric acid, ESO, and shellac—meaning that some of the isopropyl alcohol (IPA) is grafted onto the citric acid capped curative (via an ester linkage). Varying the ratio of IPA to acetone can vary the degree of IPA grafting onto the curative.

Second Illustrative Embodiment and Process for ENR-Based Material

Epoxidized Natural Rubber with 25% epoxidation (ENR-25) was mixed at 100 parts of rubber to 30 parts of the curative as prepared in the first embodiment. In addition, 70 parts of ground cork powder (MF1 from Amorim) was added as a filler. This mixture was made on a two-roll rubber mill according to normal compounding practices. The mixture was sheeted out and molded at 110° C. for 30 minutes. It was found to be properly cured, with similar elongation and strain recovery as sulfur and peroxide cure systems.

Third Illustrative Embodiment and Process for ENR-Based Material

Epoxidized Natural Rubber with 25% epoxidation (ENR-25) was mixed at 100 parts of rubber to 45 parts of the curative as prepared in the first embodiment. In addition, 70 parts of ground cork powder (MF1 from Amorim) was added as a filler. This mixture was made on a two-roll rubber mill according to normal compounding practices. The mixture was sheeted out and molded at 110° C. for 30 minutes. It was found to be fully cured, but with some attributes of over-crosslinked systems; including lower tear resistance and very high resilience.

Fourth Illustrative Embodiment and Process for ENR-Based Material

Epoxidized Natural Rubber with 25% epoxidation (ENR-25) was mixed at 100 parts of rubber to 15 parts of the curative as prepared in the first embodiment. In addition, 70 parts of ground cork powder (MF1 from Amorim) was added as a filler. This mixture was made on a two-roll rubber mill according to normal compounding practices. The mixture was sheeted out and molded at 110° C. for 30 minutes. It was found to be cured, but with a relatively low state-of-cure; with attributes such as low resilience and poor strain recovery.

Fifth Illustrative Embodiment and Process for ENR-Based Material

Epoxidized Natural Rubber with 25% epoxidation (ENR-25) was mixed at 100 parts of rubber to 30 parts of the curative as prepared in the first embodiment. In addition, 70 parts of ground cork powder (MF1 from Amorim) was added as a filler. Additionally, 20 parts of garneted fiber (from recovered textiles) was added. This mixture was made on a two-roll rubber mill according to normal compounding practices. The mixture was sheeted out and molded at 110° C. for 30 minutes. It was found to be fully cured and additionally had a relatively high extensional modulus in accordance with the fiber content.

Sixth Illustrative Embodiment and Process for ENR-Based Material

Epoxidized Natural Rubber with 25% epoxidation (ENR-25) was mixed at 100 parts of rubber to 30 parts of the curative as prepared in embodiment 1. In addition, 60 parts of ground cork powder (MF1 from Amorim) was added as a filler. Additionally, 80 parts of garneted fiber (from recovered textiles) was added. This mixture was made on a two-roll rubber mill according to normal compounding practices. The mixture was sheeted out and molded at 110° C. for 30 minutes. It was found to be fully cured and additionally had a very high extensional modulus in accordance with the fiber content.

Seventh Illustrative Embodiment and Process for ENR-Based Material

Epoxidized Natural Rubber with 25% epoxidation (ENR-25) was mixed at 100 parts of rubber to 60 parts of the curative as prepared in embodiment 1. In addition, 35 parts of ESO was added as a reactive plasticizer. In addition, 350 parts of ground cork powder (MF1 from Amorim) was added as a filler. Additionally, 30 parts of garneted fiber (from recovered textiles) was added. This mixture was made on a two-roll rubber mill according to normal compounding practices. The mixture was sheeted out and molded at 110° C. for 30 minutes. It was found to be fully cured, rigid, and additionally had a relatively high extensional modulus in accordance with the fiber content.

Eighth Illustrative Embodiment and Process for the Creation of Curative that is Used in the Preparation of ENR-Based Material

Curative was prepared by dissolving 50 parts of citric acid in a warm blend of 110 parts of isopropyl alcohol. After the citric acid was dissolved, 50 parts of ESO was added to the mixture along with 10 parts of Beeswax. The mixture was heated and stirred continually until all the volatile solvents had evaporated. The total residual volume is greater than that of the citric acid, ESO, and beeswax—meaning that some of the isopropyl alcohol (IPA) is grafted onto the citric acid capped curative (via an ester linkage). The reduced liquid mixture was added to fine precipitated silica (Ultrasil 7000 from Evonik) to make a 50 wt % dry liquid concentrate (DLC) for easy addition in subsequent processing.

Ninth Illustrative Embodiment and Process for ENR-Based Material

Epoxidized Natural Rubber with 25% epoxidation (ENR-25) was mixed at 100 parts of rubber to 50 parts of the curative DLC as prepared in the eighth illustrative embodiment along with 30 additional parts of fine precipitated silica. It was found that mixing of the curative DLC prepared in eighth illustrative embodiment eliminated some stickiness in processing that was experienced when mixing in curative that was not pre-dispersed as a DLC. The resulting mixture was cured in a press at ˜50 psi at 110° C. for 30 minutes to make a translucent slab.

The material of this embodiment was found to have attributes that are analogous to those found in animal-hide leather; including slow recovery after folding, vibration damping attributes, and high tear strength. It is believed that the total silica loading (55 parts) and this particular curative contribute to the “lossy” characteristics of this material. Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is possible that the level of total silica loading is approaching the percolation threshold and creating particle-particle interactions that are creating the lossy attributes without limitation unless otherwise indicated in the following claims. This is a preferred mechanism to reliance on polymer formulations that experience a T_(g) near room temperature as a means to create a lossy material, as such an approach would lead to poor cold crack resistance.

Tenth Illustrative Embodiment and Process for ENR-Based Material

Epoxidized Natural Rubber with 25% epoxidation (ENR-25) was mixed at 100 parts of rubber to 30 parts of so-called “cottonized” hemp fiber, this mixture was mixed on a two-roll mill using a tight nip to get an even dispersion of fiber. To this masterbatch 50 parts of the curative DLC as prepared in the eighth illustrative embodiment along with 30 additional parts of fine precipitated silica. The resulting mixture was cured in a press at ˜50 psi at 110° C. for 30 minutes to make a translucent slab. The material of the tenth illustrative embodiment was found to have similar attributes as the material of the ninth illustrative embodiment with the change of having much lower elongation at break and much higher modulus in accordance with the fiber loading.

Eleventh Illustrative Embodiment and Process for ENR-Based Material

A black batch of ENR-based material was prepared by mixing ENR-25 with coconut charcoal to achieve the desired black color. In addition to the black colorant, other ingredients were added to yield a processible batch of rubber. Other ingredients may include clay, precipitated silica, additional epoxidized soybean oil, castor oil, essential oil odorants, tocopheryl (Vitamin E—as a natural antioxidant), and curative. This material was then cured in a tensile-plaque mold at 150° C. for 25 minutes to complete the curing.

Twelfth Illustrative Embodiment and Process for ENR-Based Material

A brown batch of ENR-based material was prepared by mixing ENR-25 with cork powder to achieve the desired brown color and texture. In addition to the cork, other ingredients were added to yield a processible batch of rubber. Other ingredients may include clay, precipitated silica, additional epoxidized soybean oil, essential oil odorants, tocopheryl (Vitamin E—as a natural antioxidant), and pre-polymer curative. This material was then cured in a tensile-plaque mold at 150° C. for 25 minutes to complete the curing.

Tensile stress-strain curves are shown in FIG. 9 for materials prepared according to the eleventh and twelfth embodiments. It can be seen that the cork-filled brown batch (twelfth embodiment) is higher in modulus than the black batch (eleventh embodiment) for this particular example. In these two illustrative embodiments, the brown batch (twelfth embodiment) had a Shore A hardness of 86 while the black batch (eleventh embodiment) had a Shore A hardness of 79.

The optimal amount of the additional materials may vary according to the specific application of the ENR-based material, and various ranges for same are shown in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Acceptable and Preferred Ranges of Other Ingredients. Acceptable Range Preferred Range (Percent (Percent of Total Ingredient of Total Product Weight) Product Weight) ENR-25 40-60  20-90  Curative 2-10 1-50 Cork 3-10 0-70 Colorant 0-15 0-50 Precipitated Silica 15-35  0-50 EVO 0-10 0-30 Non-reactive vegetable oil 0-10 0-30 Odorant 0.5-3   0-10 Vitamin E/antioxidant 0.2-2   0-4  Mineral filler (e.g., clay) 0-15 0-50

Variations in the other ingredients: clay, precipitated silica, additional epoxidized soybean oil, castor oil, and/or amount of curative may be used to vary the modulus of a batch/recipe within a range that is characteristic of traditional rubber recipes. By those well versed in rubber compounding it is recognized that formulations of rubber may be selectively compounded with hardnesses ranging from approximately 50 Shore A up to about 90 Shore A. The illustrative formulations show that these compounds fall within the range of expected performance for epoxidized natural rubber. Furthermore, it is known that traditionally compounded natural rubber may achieve strength values from 10-25 MPa. The eleventh illustrative embodiment displays physical properties in line with traditionally compounded natural rubber.

Materials made according to this disclosure may further be reinforced with continuous fiber to make stronger products. Methods for reinforcement may include but are not limited to use of both woven textiles, non-woven textiles, unidirectional strands, and plied unidirectional layers unless otherwise indicated in the following claims. Reinforcement may preferably come from natural fibers and yarns. Illustrative yarns may include, but are not limited to, cotton, jute, hemp, ramie, sisal, coconut fiber, kapok fiber, silk, or wool and combinations thereof unless otherwise indicated in the following claims. Regenerated cellulose fibers such as viscose rayon, Modal® (a specific type of viscose, by Lenzing), Lyocell (also known as Tencel®, by Lenzing), or Cuprammonium Rayon may also be used without limitation or restriction, as suitable for a particular application, unless otherwise indicated in the following claims. Alternatively, reinforcement may require the strength of synthetic fiber yarns based on para-aramids, meta-aramids, polybenzimidazole, polybenzoxazole, and similar high strength fibers. In another illustrative embodiment, a reinforcement layer and/or material may be configured from a protein-based fiber, which fibers include but are not limited to of wool, silk, alpaca fiber, qiviut, vicuna fiber, llama wool, cashmere, and angora unless otherwise indicated in the following claims. Illustrative natural yarns may beneficially be treated by the natural fiber welding process to improve their strength, reduce their cross-sectional diameter, and improve fiber-to-elastomer bonding characteristics. Such yarns may be plied into threads that provide interpenetration features between reinforcement and elastomer as well as improve the strength of the reinforcement. For certain applications it may be preferred to provide reinforcement by unidirectional reinforcement in plied layers as compared to woven and knit reinforcement. It has been found that such woven and knit reinforcement may improve product stiffness but may negatively impact tear strength by creating stress-concentration features around yarns and fibers. In contrast, unidirectional reinforcement at various ply angles may avoid such stress concentrating features. In a related way, non-woven mats may be used as reinforcement as they do not contain regularly oriented stress-concentrating features but do enable long reinforcement fiber lengths at high fiber volume fractions. In a related way, integrally mixed fiber content has been found to improve stiffness but decrease tear strength at certain volume and weight fractions. Tear strength improvement is observed when total fiber content exceeds 50 phr (in traditional rubber compounding nomenclature), especially with even dispersion and good retention of fiber length during processing.

Molding and curing of materials according to the present disclosure has been found to require only modest pressure to achieve porosity-free articles. While traditional rubber cure systems evolve gasses and thus require molding pressures generally greater than 500 psi and often closer to 2000 psi, the compounds disclosed herein only require molding pressure of 20 psi-100 psi, or more specifically 40 psi-80 psi to achieve consolidation and porosity-free articles. The actual required pressure may be dependent more on the amount of material flow and detail required in the final article. Such low molding pressures allow the usage of much lower tonnage presses that are correspondingly less expensive. Such pressures also allow much less expensive tooling; even embossed texture papers have been found to create suitable patterns in elastomeric materials made according to this disclosure and such texture papers are found to be reusable for multiple cycles without loss of pattern detail. The material edge strength has been found to be adequate even when using open-sided tooling—this allows for faster tool cleaning and significantly reduced tooling costs.

The low molding pressures further allow for such elastomeric materials to be molded directly onto the surface of resilient and porous core substrates. For example, the material may be overmolded onto non-woven insulative mats as a resilient flooring product or automotive interior product that exhibits soft-touch and sound absorption characteristics. Similarly, the product may be overmolded onto softwoods or similar low compressive strength substrates without damage to the substrate.

As previously described, certain catalysts are known in the art to speed up the carboxylic acid addition to epoxide groups and such may be used in formulating recipes according to the present disclosure without limitation unless otherwise indicated in the following claims.

Animal-hide leather has distinctive characteristics in terms of elongation, resiliency, loss modulus, and stiffness that are different than a regularly compounded elastomer. In particular, animal-hide leather may be folded back on itself without cracking—largely independent of temperature. That is, it does not have a material phase that becomes brittle at low temperatures. Animal-hide leather also has vibration damping characteristics that are less common with regularly compounded elastomeric compounds. Animal-hide leather has slow recovery after creasing or folding, but does generally recover completely with minimal plastic deformation. These attributes may be mimicked in materials compounded according to the present disclosure in the illustrative embodiments and methods for same disclosed herein.

C. Additional Treatments

Articles produced according to this disclosure may be finished by any means known in the art. Such means include but are not limited to embossing, branding, sanding, abrading, polishing, calendering, varnishing, waxing, dyeing, pigmenting, and the like unless otherwise indicated in the following claims. Such articles may be configured to exhibit characteristics very analogous to animal-hide leather. The surfaces then may be treated with natural oil or wax protectants, subject to a particular application.

D. Applications/Additional Illustrative Products

Articles molded with materials according to this disclosure may be used as plant-based alternatives to petrochemical-based leather-like products and/or animal-hide leather products. In one illustrative embodiment the articles may be molded substantially as sheets with various textures according to the desired application. The sheets may be used in durable goods such as upholstery, seating, belts, shoes, handbags, purses, backpacks, straps, equestrian gear, wallets, cellular phone cases, and similar articles without limitation unless otherwise indicated in the following claims. Alternatively, such materials may be molded directly to the shape of the final article in applications such as shoe soles, shoe toes, shoe heal cups, shoe uppers, purses, horse saddles and saddle components, helmet coverings, chair armrests, and similar articles.

Materials according to this disclosure may be overmolded onto resilient materials and thus be used as flooring, exercise mats, or sound absorption panels. Similarly, those materials could be overmolded onto garments as, for example, a knee patch or elbow patch for improved abrasion resistance for a region of a garment. Likewise, motorcycle garments (e.g., chaps) and equestrian gear may be overmolded of materials according to this disclosure to provide improved local abrasion resistance and protection.

Materials according to this disclosure may be molded into complex three-dimensional articles and multi-laminated articles. That is, certain formulations according to this disclosure may provide improved tear strength, while other formulations according to this disclosure may provide improved abrasion resistance. Such formulations may be laminated and co-molded to provide articles with improved overall performance compared with an article made of only one formulation. Three-dimensional articles may be molded to provide additional product features, attachment points, and other functionality without limitation unless otherwise indicated in the following claims. Three-dimensional articles may also consist of multiple formulations arranged at various locations within an article to provide functionality required for each location.

One example of such molded-in functionality is shown in FIGS. 10A & 10B, which provides a perspective view of a portion of a belt made of an ENR-based material. Specifically, in FIG. 10A, a tapered feature (shown on the right-hand side of FIG. 10A) may be molded into a sheet that is later slit into belt sections. The reduced thickness (which may be due to the absence of a backing material/backing layer (e.g., non-woven mat) in the area having reduced thickness) allows for a folded buckle retention area that is substantially similar in thickness to belt sections that are not folded over on itself, which is shown in FIG. 10B where the reduced-thickness area has been engaged with a buckle. Additionally, the region that is folded back onto itself may be preferentially bonded in place with additional resin or ENR-based material molded between the folded region with a cure cycle that is similar to that used during the initial molding of the sheet.

Shown in FIG. 11 are a series of retention grooves and ridges that may be molded into the end of the belt to provide a friction-based retention feature. That is, some belts made with woven nylon or other textiles are tightened and retained on the wearer by friction between ribs woven into the belt and a metal bar used in the clasp. Such features may be advantageous in that they prevent stress risers from developing around punched holes used for retention in common belt buckles. Retention grooves & ridges and/or other features for retaining the position of a portion of a belt easily molded into a belt sheet by the creation of matching features in the mold tooling (which may be silicone or metal) when making an ENR-based material according to the present disclosure.

ENR-based materials configured for use as a belt may be made in sheets and may be produced by molding according to the pattern illustrated in FIG. 12. As shown in FIG. 12, the sheet may be comprised of various layers, wherein each outside layer of the sheet may be comprised of an ENR-based material (e.g., “sheeted rubber preform” in FIG. 12) with one or more fibrous backing materials/backing layers positioned therebetween. The backing materials may be comprised of a woven reinforcement or a non-woven mat in the illustrative embodiment shown in FIG. 12, but any suitable backing material/backing layer may be used without limitation unless otherwise indicated in the following claims. At least one of the backing materials may be a coated fabric (as shown in FIG. 12 for the layer labeled “non-woven mat”), which may be constructed in accordance with Section 2 described herein above. Texture paper may be positioned adjacent one or both ENR-based material layers to provide the desired aesthetics to the outer layers of the sheet and resulting article. Finally, a silicone release sheet may be positioned adjacent one or both texture papers for ease of use.

It has been found that the relatively low required pressure to yield a properly cured specimen utilizing ENR-based materials allows for the use of low-cost paper and silicone tooling. So-called texture papers are used in polyurethane and vinyl leather alternatives to achieve the desired texture. It has been found that these texture papers likewise are effective in creating patterns in ENR-based materials as disclosed herein. An advantageous molding configuration is shown in FIG. 12, wherein release silicone sheets are provided as the top-most and bottom-most layers in the sandwich that is molded under temperature and pressure. If the “outside” faces of the belt are desired to be textured, texture paper may be provided next to the silicone sheets. These may advantageously be treated with a release aid to promote easy release and reuse of the texture paper. Silicone and vegetable oil have both been found to be effective in release and reuse of the texture paper but any suitable release agent may be used without limitation unless otherwise indicated in the following claims.

The uncured rubber pre-form sheets may be loaded into the sandwich next to the texture paper(s). Between the rubber pre-form sheets a non-woven mat and/or woven reinforcement layer(s) may be provided. In one illustrative embodiment, the non-woven mat may comprise recycled textiles, hemp fibers, coconut coir fibers, or other environmentally benign (biodegradable) fibers, and/or combinations thereof without limitation unless otherwise indicated in the following claims. In one illustrative embodiment the woven reinforcement layer may comprise jute burlap or similar open-structure woven product that is high in strength and biodegradable. In another illustrative embodiment so-called cotton monk's cloth may be also used as a woven reinforcement layer without restriction unless otherwise indicated in the following claims. In some configurations open-structure woven products provide relatively good tear strength when compared to tight woven fabrics. In another illustrative embodiment, a reinforcement layer (woven or non-woven) may be configured from a protein-based fiber, which fibers include but are not limited to of wool, silk, alpaca fiber, qiviut, vicuna fiber, llama wool, cashmere, and angora unless otherwise indicated in the following claims.

ENR-based materials configured for use as leather substitutes may be used in applications where animal-hide leather is used today. Such applications may include belts, purses, backpacks, shoes, table tops, seating, and the like without limitation unless otherwise indicated in the following claims. Many of these articles are consumable items that if made from petrochemical-based leather-like products are non-biodegradable and are non-recyclable. If such items are made from the material disclosed herein, they would be biodegradable and thus not create a disposal problem. Furthermore, unlike animal-hide leather, which requires significant processing to be made durable and stable (some of which uses toxic chemicals), the materials disclosed herein may require less processing and will use environmentally friendly chemicals. Additionally, animal-hide leather is limited in size and may contain defects that render large pieces inefficient to produce. The material disclosed in at least one embodiment herein does not have the same kind of size limitations as the reaction between epoxide groups and carboxylic groups does not create any condensation by-products, there is no inherent limit to the cross-sectional thickness that may be created.

4. Foam Material A. Background

Most resilient foam products that are commercially available are based on synthetic polymers, specifically polyurethane. A key attribute that differentiates so-called memory foam from other foam products is the glass transition temperature (T_(g)) of the polymer. Rigid foams are generally comprised of polymers with a T_(g) well above room temperature, an illustrative example of such a product is polystyrene foam (often used in rigid insulation boards and insulated drinking cups). Flexible and springy foams are generally comprised of polymers with a T_(g) well below room temperature, an exemplary example of such a product is a car door weather seal based on ethylene-propylene rubber (EPR/EPDM). Natural products may be likewise found in both rigid and flexible/springy categories. Balsa wood is a generally porous and foam-like material that is substantially rigid at room temperature. Natural rubber latex may be foamed by either the Talalay or Dunlop process to make a flexible and springy foam product that is substantially comprised of naturally-occurring polymers. To date, there is no widespread naturally occurring foam that has a T_(g) near room temperature to yield a lossy foam that is the key attribute of memory foam materials.

Natural materials that make flexible foam products today are often based on natural rubber latex. To make latex products stable to temperature excursions, the polymer must be vulcanized (i.e., crosslinked). Vulcanization of natural rubber may occur through a few known methods; most often sulfur vulcanization may be used, but peroxide or phenolic cure systems may likewise be used. Although sulfur and zinc oxide cure systems may be capable of vulcanizing natural rubber latex, very often other chemicals are added to increase the cure rate, limit reversion, and provide other functional benefits (e.g., anti-oxidants, anti-ozonates, and/or UV stabilizers). These additional chemicals may create chemical sensitivities in certain individuals. Also, natural rubber latex itself may cause allergic reactions in certain individuals due to the natural proteins that exist in the latex.

Similar natural rubber latex formulations may likewise be used as a glue for fibrous mats to create a resilient foam-like product. Notably, coconut fiber may be bonded together by natural rubber latex into a non-woven mat to provide a cushion or mattress material that is substantially all-natural in origin. Despite various claims in the prior art of being “all natural,” the cure system and additives to the natural rubber may contain synthetic chemicals that may create chemical sensitivities in certain individuals; furthermore, the natural rubber latex itself may cause allergic reactions in certain individuals due to the residual protein.

B. Summary

A foam product based on epoxidized vegetable oil is disclosed wherein the pre-polymer curative is likewise comprised of naturally occurring and naturally derived products of biological origin. The foam product disclosed is created without the use of additional foaming agent. The foamed product may be created with or without the requirement of whipping in air into the pre-cured liquid resin. The foam product disclosed may have a T_(g) near room temperature, thus providing a lossy product. Additionally, the foam product may be formulated to have a T_(g) below room temperature to provide a flexible, springy product. Memory foam attributes may be attained by polymers prepared according to this disclosure. Such polymers are reaction products of the pre-polymer curative as described herein above and epoxidized vegetable oils, reaction mixtures may also contain other natural polymers and modified natural polymers as described in further detail below.

In certain embodiments, the foam product may contain a certain fraction of epoxidized natural rubber. Notably, the process that creates epoxidized natural rubber also reduces the free protein that may create allergic reactions in certain individuals. The reduction in allergic response for epoxidized natural rubber compared to untreated natural rubber is greater than 95%.

Disclosed is a castable resin comprising EVO (and/or any suitable epoxidized triglyceride as disclosed above) combined with the pre-polymer curative (as disclosed above in Section 1), and in one illustrative embodiment ENR that has been solubilized in the EVO.

It has been found that a pre-polymer curative, as disclosed in Section 1, can be created that eliminates the risk of porosity when cured within a certain temperature range, but that evolves gas during the curing process when conducted within a second higher temperature range. Furthermore, the oligomeric pre-polymer curative may incorporate substantially all of the polyfunctional carboxylic acid so that no additional solvent is required during the curing process. For example, citric acid is not miscible in ESO but they may be made to react with each other in a suitable solvent. The amount of citric acid may be selected so that the pre-polymer curative is created so that substantially all of the epoxide groups of the ESO in the pre-polymer curative are reacted with carboxylic acid groups of the citric acid. With sufficiently excess citric acid, the pre-polymerization extent may be limited so that no gel fraction is formed. That is, the target pre-polymer curative is a low molecular weight (oligomeric) citric-acid capped ester-product formed by the reaction between carboxylic acid groups on the citric acid with epoxide groups on the ESO.

Illustrative oligomeric pre-polymer curatives may be created with weight ratios of ESO to citric acid in the range of 1.5:1-0.5:1. If too much ESO is added during pre-polymer curative creation, the solution may gel and further incorporation of ESO to create the target resin becomes impossible. Note that on a weight basis, stoichiometric equivalent amounts of epoxide groups on the ESO and carboxylic acid groups on the citric acid occur at a weight ratio of 100 parts of ESO to about 30 parts of citric acid. A ratio of ESO:citric acid above 1.5:1 may build a pre-polymer curative with excessive molecular weight (and hence viscosity) which limits its usefulness as a casting resin. If the ratio of ESO:citric acid is below 0.5:1 it has been found that there is so much excess citric acid that after solvent evaporation, ungrafted citric acid may precipitate out of solution.

In addition to controlling the ratio of ESO to citric acid, according to the present disclosure it has been found that selective control of the amount of alcohol used as a solvent may also be used to tailor the physical properties of the resulting elastomeric foam. It has been found that the alcohol solvent may itself be incorporated into the elastomer by forming ester linkages with the polyfunctional carboxylic acid that are reversible and thus gas-evolving when the material is cured at a temperature higher than that required to make a porosity-free product. A mixture of two or more solvents may be used to tailor the amount of grafting of an alcohol-containing solvent onto the citric acid-capped oligomeric pre-polymer curative.

For example, and without restriction or limitation unless otherwise indicated in the following claims, isopropyl alcohol (IPA) or ethanol may be used as a component of a solvent system used to miscibilize citric acid with ESO. IPA or ethanol are capable of forming an ester linkage via a condensation reaction with citric acid. Since citric acid has three carboxylic acids, such grafting reduces the average functionality of the citric acid molecules that are reacting with the ESO. This is beneficial in creating an oligomeric structure that is more linear and therefore less highly branched. Acetone may be used as one component of a solvent system used to miscibilize citric acid with ESO, but unlike IPA or ethanol, acetone itself is not capable of being grafted onto the citric acid-capped oligomeric pre-polymer curative. Indeed, during creation of the oligomeric pre-polymer curative it has been found that the reactivity of the pre-polymer curative is determined, in part, by the ratio of IPA or ethanol to acetone that may be used to solubilize citric acid with ESO. That is, in reaction mixtures with the similar amounts of citric acid and ESO, a pre-polymer curative created from a solution with a relatively high ratio of IPA or ethanol to acetone creates a lower viscosity product than pre-polymer curative created from a solution with a relatively low ratio of IPA or ethanol to acetone under similar reaction conditions. Also, the amount of IPA or ethanol grafted on the pre-polymer curative determines the extent to which such IPA or ethanol is evolved when the formulated resin is foamed at a temperature higher than that required to make a porosity-free resin product.

C. Illustrative Methods and Products

Illustrative blends that create resilient memory foams have been created from a combination of inputs that include a pre-polymer curative, a liquid blend of epoxidized natural rubber and epoxidized vegetable oil and may contain unmodified epoxidized vegetable oil.

In a first illustrative embodiment of a foam material, the resilient memory foam is produced using a pre-polymer curative creation and by dissolving 50 parts of citric acid in 125 parts of warm IPA, accelerated by mixing (again with reference to FIG. 1). After dissolution of the citric acid, 50 parts of ESO is added to the stirring solution. The solution is preferably mixed and reacted at temperatures of 60° C.-140° C. with optional use of mild vacuum (50-300 Ton). One illustrative batch was mixed in a jacketed reactor vessel with a jacket temperature of 120° C. (solution temperatures of ˜70° C.-85° C.) and the citric acid grafting onto ESO occurred concurrently with IPA evaporation. At the end of the reaction sequence it was discovered that roughly 12 parts of IPA was grafted onto the combined 100 parts of ESO and citric acid. Accordingly, temperatures above the boiling point of IPA and application of vacuum could no longer yield IPA condensate in the condensing system. Calculations reveal that of the starting carboxylic acid sites on the citric acid, roughly 31% reacted with epoxide groups on the ESO (assuming all of the epoxides were converted during the reaction to ester linkages), roughly 27% of the carboxylic acid sites reacted with IPA to form pendant esters, and roughly 42% remain unreacted and available for crosslinking the resin in a subsequent processing step. However, these calculations are for illustrative purposes only and in no way limit the scope of the present disclosure unless otherwise indicated in the following claims.

In a second illustrative embodiment of a foam material, the resilient memory foam was created via a rubber-containing resin precursor. Epoxidized natural rubber may be included in resin-based formulations at levels below twenty-five weight percent (25 wt %) and still yield a pourable liquid. Creation of the rubber-containing precursor may be done in two-stages without requiring the use of a solvent for rubber dissolution. In the first stage 100 parts of epoxidized natural rubber (ENR-25) are mixed with 50 parts of ESO using rubber mixing techniques (a two-roll mill or internal mixer). This yields a very soft gum that cannot effectively be further mixed on rubber processing equipment, but with the application of heat (e.g., 80° C.) additional ESO may be mixed into the rubber with a Flacktek Speedmixer or alternative low-horsepower equipment (e.g., a sigma-blade mixer) to create a flowable liquid containing 25% ENR-25 and 75% ESO.

A third illustrative embodiment of a foam material may also produce a resilient memory foam-type creation. In this embodiment, the foamable resin is produced via mixing and curing. For this illustrative embodiment, 40 parts of pre-polymer curative from the first illustrative embodiment of a foam material was added to 80 parts of rubber-containing resin from the second illustrative embodiment. The resulting combination was then mixed with a Flacktek Speedmixer until a homogeneous solution was obtained (about 10 minutes of mixing). This resin was cured using the following two procedures:

-   1. Resin cured on 200° C. (nominal temperature) hot griddle (PTFE     coated) just like a pancake. The material foamed to a relatively     homogenous article with memory-foam characteristics; specifically,     lossy behavior. A depiction of the resulting material is shown in     FIG. 13. -   2. Resin was vacuum degassed after mixing and placed on the same     200° C. hot griddle. In this instance, porosity was observed over     the heating element (measured temperature 210° C.) but no porosity     was observed over the region of the griddle without the heating     element (measured temperature 180° C.). Depictions of the resulting     materials are shown in FIG. 14.

From these two procedures, it is clear that there may be two sources of porosity. One source may involve small bubbles of air that are incorporated during mixing. Additional experimentation has shown that the presence of ENR-25 in the resin is an important contributor to stabilizing this incorporated air and preventing bubble coalescence during the curing stage. The second source of porosity is evolved gas, likely removal of the grafted IPA, at temperatures at or above 200° C.

As previously described, certain catalysts are known in the art to speed up the carboxylic acid addition to epoxide groups and such may be used in formulating recipes according to the present disclosure without limitation unless otherwise indicated in the following claims.

D. Applications/Additional Illustrative Products

Materials according to this disclosure may be used as flooring, exercise mats, bedding, shoe insoles, shoe outsoles, or sound absorption panels without limitation unless otherwise indicated in the following claims.

Materials according to this disclosure may be molded into complex three-dimensional articles and multi-laminated articles. Three-dimensional articles may also consist of multiple material formulations arranged at various locations within an article to provide functionality required for each location.

The resilient memory foam based on vegetable oil may be used in applications where polyurethane is used today. Such applications may include shoes, seating, flooring, exercise mats, bedding, sound absorption panels, and the like without limitation unless otherwise indicated in the following claims. Many of these articles are consumable items that if made from synthetic polyurethane foams are non-biodegradable and are non-recyclable. If such items are made from the material disclosed herein, they would be biodegradable and thus not create a disposal problem.

Although the methods described and disclosed herein may be configured to utilize a curative comprised of a natural materials, the scope of the present disclosure, any discrete process step and/or parameters therefor, and/or any apparatus for use therewith is not so limited and extends to any beneficial and/or advantageous use thereof without limitation unless so indicated in the following claims.

The materials used to construct the apparatuses and/or components thereof for a specific process will vary depending on the specific application thereof, but it is contemplated that polymers, synthetic materials, metals, metal alloys, natural materials, and/or combinations thereof may be especially useful in some applications. Accordingly, the above-referenced elements may be constructed of any material known to those skilled in the art or later developed, which material is appropriate for the specific application of the present disclosure without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure unless so indicated in the following claims.

Having described preferred aspects of the various processes, apparatuses, and products made thereby, other features of the present disclosure will undoubtedly occur to those versed in the art, as will numerous modifications and alterations in the embodiments and/or aspects as illustrated herein, all of which may be achieved without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the methods and embodiments pictured and described herein are for illustrative purposes only, and the scope of the present disclosure extends to all processes, apparatuses, and/or structures for providing the various benefits and/or features of the present disclosure unless so indicated in the following claims.

While the chemical process, process steps, components thereof, apparatuses therefor, products made thereby, and impregnated substrates according to the present disclosure have been described in connection with preferred aspects and specific examples, it is not intended that the scope be limited to the particular embodiments and/or aspects set forth, as the embodiments and/or aspects herein are intended in all respects to be illustrative rather than restrictive. Accordingly, the processes and embodiments pictured and described herein are no way limiting to the scope of the present disclosure unless so stated in the following claims.

Although several figures are drawn to accurate scale, any dimensions provided herein are for illustrative purposes only and in no way limit the scope of the present disclosure unless so indicated in the following claims. It should be noted that the welding processes, apparatuses and/or equipment therefor, and/or impregnated and reacted upon substrates produced thereby are not limited to the specific embodiments pictured and described herein, but rather the scope of the inventive features according to the present disclosure is defined by the claims herein. Modifications and alterations from the described embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art without departure from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

Any of the various features, components, functionalities, advantages, aspects, configurations, process steps, process parameters, etc. of a chemical process, a process step, a substrate, and/or a impregnated and reacted substrate, may be used alone or in combination with one another depending on the compatibility of the features, components, functionalities, advantages, aspects, configurations, process steps, process parameters, etc. Accordingly, an infinite number of variations of the present disclosure exist. Modifications and/or substitutions of one feature, component, functionality, aspect, configuration, process step, process parameter, etc. for another in no way limit the scope of the present disclosure unless so indicated in the following claims.

It is understood that the present disclosure extends to all alternative combinations of one or more of the individual features mentioned, evident from the text and/or drawings, and/or inherently disclosed. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the present disclosure and/or components thereof. The embodiments described herein explain the best modes known for practicing the apparatuses, methods, and/or components disclosed herein and will enable others skilled in the art to utilize the same. The claims are to be construed to include alternative embodiments to the extent permitted by the prior art.

Unless otherwise expressly stated in the claims, it is in no way intended that any process or method set forth herein be construed as requiring that its steps be performed in a specific order. Accordingly, where a method claim does not actually recite an order to be followed by its steps or it is not otherwise specifically stated in the claims or descriptions that the steps are to be limited to a specific order, it is no way intended that an order be inferred, in any respect. This holds for any possible non-express basis for interpretation, including but not limited to: matters of logic with respect to arrangement of steps or operational flow; plain meaning derived from grammatical organization or punctuation; the number or type of embodiments described in the specification. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of preparing a curative, said method comprising the steps of: a. dissolving a polyfunctional carboxylic acid in a hydroxyl-containing solvent to create a first mixture; b. adding an epoxidized triglyceride to said first mixture to create a second mixture; c. heating said second mixture to a temperature near a boiling point of said hydroxyl-containing solvent; d. allowing said polyfunctional carboxylic acid to react with said epoxidized triglyceride; e. allowing said hydroxyl-containing solvent to form an ester linkage between said hydroxyl-containing solvent and said naturally occurring polyfunctional carboxylic acid; f. removing an unreacted portion of said hydroxyl-containing solvent.
 2. The method according to claim 1 wherein said step of allowing said polyfunctional carboxylic acid to react with said epoxidized triglyceride and said step of allowing said hydroxyl-containing solvent to form an ester linkage between said hydroxyl-containing solvent and said naturally occurring polyfunctional carboxylic acid are further defined as occurring concurrently.
 3. The method according to claim 1 wherein said hydroxyl-containing solvent is further defined as being combined with a non-hydroxyl-containing solvent.
 4. The method according to claim 3 wherein said non-hydroxyl-containing solvent is further defined as acetone.
 5. An epoxidized natural rubber-based material comprising a mixture of a curative and an epoxidized natural rubber, said curative comprising a reaction product among a naturally occurring polyfunctional carboxylic acid, a hydroxyl-containing solvent, and an epoxidized triglyceride, wherein said curative includes a formed ester linkage between said hydroxyl-containing solvent and said naturally occurring polyfunctional carboxylic acid.
 6. The epoxidized natural rubber-based material according to claim 5 wherein said naturally occurring polyfunctional carboxylic acid is further defined as being selected from a group consisting of citric acid, tartaric acid, succinic acid, malic acid, maleic acid, and fumaric acid.
 7. The epoxidized natural rubber-based material according to claim 5 wherein said epoxidized triglyceride is further defined as being selected from a group consisting of epoxidized soybean oil, epoxidized linseed oil, epoxidized corn oil, epoxidized cottonseed oil, epoxidized canola oil, epoxidized rapeseed oil, epoxidized grape seed oil, epoxidized poppy seed oil, epoxidized tongue oil, epoxidized sunflower oil, epoxidized safflower oil, epoxidized wheat germ oil, epoxidized walnut oil, and epoxidized microbial-produced oil.
 8. The epoxidized natural rubber-based material according to claim 7 wherein said epoxidized natural rubber is further defined as having a level of epoxidation between 3% and 50%.
 9. An article generally configured as a sheet, said article comprising: a. a first layer of an epoxidized natural rubber-based material comprising a mixture of a curative and an epoxidized natural rubber, said curative comprising a reaction product among a naturally occurring polyfunctional carboxylic acid, a hydroxyl-containing solvent, and an epoxidized triglyceride, wherein said curative includes a formed ester linkage between said hydroxyl-containing solvent and said naturally occurring polyfunctional carboxylic acid; and, b. a backing material positioned adjacent said first layer.
 10. The article according to claim 9 wherein an area of said backing material is less than an area of said first layer and wherein a thickness of a first end of said sheet is greater than a thickness of a second end of said sheet.
 11. The article according to claim 9 wherein an area of said first layer is further defined as being formed with a surface feature thereon.
 12. The article according to claim 9 further comprising a second backing material positioned adjacent said backing material.
 13. The article according to claim 9 further comprising a second layer of an epoxidized natural rubber-based material comprising a mixture of a curative and an epoxidized natural rubber, said curative comprising a reaction product among a naturally occurring polyfunctional carboxylic acid, a hydroxyl-containing solvent, and an epoxidized triglyceride, wherein said curative includes a formed ester linkage between said hydroxyl-containing solvent and said naturally occurring polyfunctional carboxylic acid, and wherein said second layer is positioned adjacent said backing material.
 14. The article according to claim 12 further comprising a second layer of an epoxidized natural rubber-based material comprising a mixture of a curative and an epoxidized natural rubber, said curative comprising a reaction product among a naturally occurring polyfunctional carboxylic acid, a hydroxyl-containing solvent, and an epoxidized triglyceride, wherein said curative includes a formed ester linkage between said hydroxyl-containing solvent and said naturally occurring polyfunctional carboxylic acid, and wherein said second layer is positioned adjacent said second backing material.
 15. The article according to claim 12 wherein said second backing material is further defined as comprising: a. a resin comprising a mixture of a pre-polymer and an epoxidized triglyceride, said pre-polymer comprising a reaction product among a naturally occurring polyfunctional carboxylic acid, a hydroxyl-containing solvent, and a second epoxidized triglyceride, wherein said curative includes a formed ester linkage between said hydroxyl-containing solvent and said naturally occurring polyfunctional carboxylic acid; and, b. a backing layer, wherein said resin impregnates a portion of said backing layer.
 16. The article according to claim 15 wherein said first layer of an epoxidized natural rubber-based material is further defined as having a texture thereon.
 17. The article according to claim 16 wherein said texture is further defined as matching a texture paper.
 18. The article according to claim 15 wherein said second layer an epoxidized natural rubber-based material is further defined as having a second texture thereon.
 19. The article according to claim 18 wherein said second texture is further defined as matching a second texture paper.
 20. The article according to claim 15 wherein said backing layer is further defined as a non-woven textile.
 21. The article according to claim 15 wherein said backing layer is further defined as a woven textile.
 22. The article according to claim 15 wherein said backing layer is further defined as comprising a natural fiber. 